Next to Nompumelelo Crèche in Joza, stands a new welfare facility called Ikhaya Losizo, "a place of help".
The safe house, which was built through the efforts of various local organisations, was officially opened on Wednesday.
Next to Nompumelelo Crèche in Joza, stands a new welfare facility called Ikhaya Losizo, "a place of help".
The safe house, which was built through the efforts of various local organisations, was officially opened on Wednesday.
While giving the background of the new centre, Woineshet Bischoff, the director of Grahamstown Child Welfare South Africa (CWSA), quoted the African proverb "it takes a village to raise a child."
She also said that the home can accommodate up to six children from newborn to 14 years of age after which they can stay at the centre until they come of age.
Bischoff says it took Child Welfare over 10 years to get the project off the ground and the house built and up and running.
While offering her gratitude to all the contributors (some of whom had donated building materials) she said that without the support of these local businesspeople, residents and students it wouldn’t have been possible.
The around 20 contributors were then presented with certificates of appreciation by Nomfanelo Maxham, area manager of CWSA.
As the house mother of the new foster home, Lulama Stefane says "I know how to work with children because I love them."
So far, the centre has opened its heart to one four-year-old child. According to Stefane, the four year old’s mother abandoned her at an early age so she lived with her father before being taken to the safe home.
"The gates are open for all to come in but one must get permission first before coming in the centre," said Stefane, saying it is of utmost importance that the children are kept safe.
During the opening, volunteers of Asibavikele (let us protect them) and children from Nompumelelo Crèche entertained the guests with songs.
Delene Ritter, the regional director of CWSA says that she is proud of the outcome of all their hard work. "If you don’t have a dream than you are not really alive,” she said.
Ritter also had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially open the house. Five Rhodes University students- Lauren Clifford Holmes, Steve Janse van Vuuren, Zuki Kota, Cassidy Parker and Dominique Schafer- had worked tirelessly to raise funds for the safe house to be built.
They organised sports events, competitions, parties, a car wash, raffles, buffet dinners, live music shows and movie evenings at Roxbury Cinema, raising an impressive R300 000.
Boschoff said the "Grahamstown community does care and motivates us to deliver this much needed service."
